Smack!
The moment we get out of the van, Mom run to Miriam and slapped her across the face before she could react. Miriam staggered a little to the left, but didn’t make a sound, while I quickly went to her side, glaring at my mother angrily.
"Why did you have to be so violent, Mom?"
"Don’t I have the right to be angry when I find out that my own daughter is deaf and blind because of this girl?"
"If you’re going to be angry, be angry with me. I didn’t even know I had this ability. I’m the only one who…"
"It’s okay, God.”
Miriam gently pulled my arm and shake her head.
“Let her hit me. It might ease my guilt."
"But…"
"I’m not going to let you be with Miriam anymore. It’s too dangerous, and even if I have to force you, I’ll do it."
"So I’m going to fight."
"Go ahead!"
Mom challenge, fearlessly, and prepared to take me away. But Miriam stepped between us and knelt down, causing everyone around us to scatter like ants fleeing from water.
"What are you doing? Get up, now!"
I tried to pull her to her feet, but she resisted, waving me away.
"Let her with me... Mom."
Miriam looked at my mother with a pleading voice. I bit my lip hard, unable to bear to see my girlfriend humiliated like this. I loved and cherished her so much, but now she was reduced to this, her pride shattered.
"..."
"I know you're mad that I made God this way, but please don't separate us. Having me with her makes her happy, and it makes me happy to be with her too."
"Being with you is dangerous. One day, she might say the wrong thing because of you, and she might not be here anymore."
"I promise that won’t happen because I love her so much… I can’t bear to see her in danger again."
Hearing this, I squatting down next to Miriam, asking her to get up.
"Please stop this."
"I want to be the one who wakes you up every morning, who makes you laugh every day. I want to help you experience everything you dream of but haven’t tried yet. And I…"
“…”
"I want to be the first one to know when you leave this world."
As Miriam said these words, she sobbed uncontrollably, and Mom, who was ready to scold her even more, swallowed her words. My sister put her arm around Mom’s shoulder.
"Let’s go home, Mom. Everyone is watching… besides, this is God’s happiness. Would you really be so cruel as to get in the way?"
Mom didn’t say anything else, looking at us in defeat before walking back to the van. It was just the two of us now.
“Let’s go upstairs.”
I said, helping Miriam up with my one good arm. She take my hand, squeezing it tightly.
"I love you."
"I know."
.
.
"Does it hurt a lot?”
Back in our room, I reached up to touch her cheek, reddened from Mom’s slap, sighing in frustration.
